Photos courtesy of Active Divers member, Amaury Cruz
Reef Report
Saturday, August 21
Key Largo, Rainbow Reef

 
Dive 1 -  Banana Patch Reef  Seas 1', depth 25', vis 30', some current, water temp 85 degrees. 
To film some of the under water scenes in the 1965 movie, Thunderball, starring Sean Connery, the producers built a platform on this reef.  Hurricanes knocked it down, but today much of the scaffolding and structure is still there, with many coral and sponges encrusting the wreck. Sightings included - massive swarms of sergeant major fish, Bermuda chub, black grouper, cowfish, blue parrots, clusters of staghorn coral. 

Dive 2 - Horseshoe reef  Seas 2', depth 20'. vis 30', no current, water temp 85 degrees.  
Sightings included - swim-throughs with bait balls of silverside minnows, bar jack, blue-runners, mutton snapper, grouper, (were all attacking, causing a swirling of fast action) angel fish, sergeant major fish, nurse shark, star corals, blue, red, orange, purple and yellow sponges adorned the caves.

-- Active Divers President and Safety Officer Lon Von Lintel
Photos courtesy of Active Divers member, Steven Moore. 
Check out this video of the Bait Ball, captured by Active Divers member, Leah Bamford.
Photos courtesy of Active Divers member, Leah Bamford

Active Divers Association’s 2021 Coral Restoration Program

Space is limited to sign up for this year’s Coral Restoration program, to be held on Sept. 11.  Act now to save your spot. This is your opportunity to participate in our ongoing efforts to restore the reefs of the Florida Keys to their former color and beauty many of us remember from years past.  After fifteen years of partnering with the Coral Restoration Foundation, for this year’s program we are working with Islamorada Conservation and Restoration Foundation (“I.CARE”), a team of scientists and interns dedicated to the restoration of Islamorada’s reefs.
 
Our divers will start the day by meeting at Key Dives, and at 8:30 a.m. we will visit the nearby onshore coral nursery to see the specimens being nurtured there, including brain corals, a variety of bouldering star corals, elkhorn and staghorn varieties.  At the nursery we will experience a tutorial on corals and the threats to our reefs and receive training in a hands-on workshop on how to transplant baby corals.
 
Lunch will be provided as part of the program from the delicious selections offered by Mango Mike’s Café at Bud N’ Mary’s Marina.  Then we will meet back at the dive shop for our two-tank dive transplanting baby corals and maintaining previous out-planting sites.  Whether you have been part of Active Divers’ past coral programs or this is your first time, Sept. 11 will be one of your most rewarding days spent underwater. 

All of this for only $100 per person. Sign up now!  
 
Roy D. Wasson Conservation Projects Director

IMPORTANT DIVE WEATHER INFORMATION

Before departing for the dive site, confirm weather conditions with Lon at (305) 251-4975 or with the designated Safety Officer. It is the responsibility of the member to call. Because of the large numbers of divers involved we are not able call you with weather information. For morning dives, call between 6 and 10 p.m. the night before the dive. For afternoon dives, call between 9 and 10 a.m. the morning of the dive


Sunday, August 29
Tenneco Towers - Advanced

American Dream Dive Charters
Check in at 12:00 noon. 
SOLD OUT
Reply to get on the waitlist

Saturday, September 4
Goliath Grouper Aggregation - Advanced

Walker's Dive Charters 
West Palm Beach
Check in at 12:00 noon
SOLD OUT
Reply to get on the waitlist

Saturday, September 11
Coral Restoration Experience

Key Dives
Full day experience - training, dives and lunch included!
Check in at 8:30 am

SPACE AVAILABLE
BOOK THIS EXPERIENCE

Sunday, September 12
Goliath Grouper Aggregation Castor Wreck - Advanced

Loggerhead Charters - Boynton Beach
Check in at 12:00 noon
SOLD OUT
Reply to get on the waitlist

NOT ALL DIVES ARE FULL!!! 
We have space on many dives, and we encourage you to get on the waitlist for those that are full. We often have last minute cancellations. Reply to this email to be added to any dive listed as full.  
These dives currently have space available:
  • September 11 - Coral Restoration in Islamorada - 5 spaces left
  • September 26 - Spiegel Grove - 3 spaces left
  • October 2 - Boynton Beach - 3 spaces left
  • October 16 - Duane with Island Ventures - 3 spaces left
  • October 31 - Spiegel Grove Double Dip - 1 space left